BSB | Haus, Milam Named To Preseason All-WCC Team

Saint Mary's baseball returners Eddie Haus and Kevin Milam were named Wednesday to the 2018 Preseason All-WCC Team

The Saint Mary's baseball team was chosen third in Wednesday's 2018 WCC Preseason Coaches' Poll

Feb. 7, 2018

SAN BRUNO, Calif. - Back-to-back 30-win seasons and appearances in the West Coast Conference Tournament has earned the Saint Mary's baseball team the attention of the conference, and it was recognized Wednesday as the Gaels were selected to finish third in the WCC's annual Preseason Coaches' Poll. Edward Haus and Kevin Milam were also both named to the Preseason All-WCC Team.

Saint Mary's (37-20, 18-9 WCC in 2017) received 66 points and one first-place vote in the poll to come in third. Defending WCC Tournament champion BYU was selected as the conference favorite with 74 points and five first-place votes. San Diego - the preseason conference favorite in each of the last two seasons - was chosen second with 71 points and four first-place votes.

Gonzaga (57 points) and Loyola Marymount (53) - both of whom shared a regular season championship with BYU last season - rounded out the top-five. San Francisco (36) was chosen just ahead of Pepperdine (35) at sixth and seventh, respectively. Santa Clara (27), Pacific (19) and Portland (12) rounded out the final three teams in the poll.

The last time Saint Mary's was chosen to finish third in the WCC's Preseason Coaches' Poll was in 2016, when the Gaels marched to their first-ever WCC regular season and tournament championships, en route to making the program's first-ever appearance in the NCAA Tournament. The Gaels return 21 letterwinners and feature 13 newcomers (11 freshmen) this season. Eight of nine starting position players (including designated hitter) are back from a year ago.

Haus returns for the Gaels this season after a first team all-WCC campaign one year ago. Haus led Saint Mary's with a .335 batting average while hitting six home runs and 21 doubles - the second most in a single season at Saint Mary's. He slugged .520 and tallied 44 RBIs while scoring 46 runs.

Milam has already received numerous national preseason accolades as a preseason All-American. Milam was named the 2017 WCC Freshman of the Year after be burst onto the scene as a dominating two-way player. He batted .313 with 12 home runs and 55 RBIs at the plate while posting a 2.27 ERA, 3-1 record and nine saves in 22 appearances on the mound.

The 2018 Saint Mary's baseball season begins on Feb. 16, at Big West Conference champion Long Beach State. The Gaels' 2018 home opener will be on March 2, versus 2018 NCAA Regional participant Xavier. The Gaels host their annual First Pitch Dinner on Feb. 9, at the Blackhawk Country Club in Danville. The annual Alumni Game will be held at 1 p.m. on Feb. 10 at Louis Guisto Field.